13 Chapter 10: "The Battle for the Right to be Called... Earth's Mightiest"

(on a day unlike any other, a dark celestial invasion led to a ragtag group of heroes reforming the avengers. Now they protect the world as the mighty avengers! But global tensions are Skyrocketing. Not everyone is happy that the avenger's answer to a new chairwoman, seren Fiore, rather than the United States government and namor of Atlantis is even less pleased that the avengers disagree with his visions of aquatic supremacy. The world is a powder keg about to explode. The only question that remains is who will light the fuse?)

(Siberia. Secret Soviet-Era corrective labor camp. The last gulag.)

"Sir, I have here a letter of pardon. The minister of justice signed and the president himself. It is a full pardon. Of every crime on your record, even going back years to--" a Russian soldier says.

"Crimes?! Nobody called them crimes when we were doing them, more like valiant missions to protect the motherland. What are these supposed crimes, boy?"

"Ah, sir, well, among other things, it says here that you, ah... Murdered four of your commanding officers and consumed their remains."

"Lies! Slanderous lies! It was five officers! But I never ate the bastards. I just tore them apart with my mouth, was all."

"Yes, sir."

"A pardon isn't good enough. I want all of these ridiculous charges wholly expunged from my record."

"Of course, sir."

The man talking to the young Russian soldier pours himself some vodka. "except for the dead officers. Leave those in useful for my rep. Their vodka on that helicopter you came in?"

"Yes, sir. My commander told me it was best to bring a colossal supply."

"For your sake, I hope it's good stuff and not that toilet brew they've been giving me here for years. So where we headed, soldier?"

"Directly to the Kremlin, sir. The others will be waiting."

"Heh. It's about damn time. Tell me, private, will we be able to do it right this time? And keep the politicians out of our fur for a change?"

"I'm told his excellency has taken a tremendous personal interest in this project."

"Yeah, I just bet he has. So who the hell else has Moscow suddenly remembered is still alive?" the man asks. Well, man is a bit of an understatement. The man isn't even a man at all but rather a humanoid bear. This man is major Mikhail urus. Otherwise known by his codename urus major, he stood up and tossed the vodka bottle to the side.

(western Russia. The Ural mountains.)

"I understand your reluctance, Dimitri, but they've assured us this time will be different." a woman named laynia Petrovna says.

"The faces of the puppet masters are always different. But that doesn't change matters much for the puppet. Tell them I said no." former KGB operative Dimitri Bukharin shakes his head.

"No, I take that back, laynia. Tell the security committee I said hell no." Dimitri scoffs.

"I don't imagine the executive security committee would like us talking to them in such a manner." laynia cautions

"Likely not. Not since I resigned. If the security committee wants to arrest me, let them come stop me if they want. I'm easy enough to find."

"You call this easy to find?" a man named Nikolai krylenko says. With both laynia and Nikolai, the two made up the super siblings Darkstar and vanguard.

"This isn't the old days of the Soviet super-soldiers, Dimitri. Moscow isn't looking for a puppet. They want you to lead the entire operation. They'd make a new cabinet position for you. Minister of superhuman defense." laynia pushes.

"Heh. Russian super-minister. Those fools must be desperate. And what does our quiet guest back there from the red room have to say about all this?" Dimitri looks back at a woman who is shrouded in red.

This woman was cloaked entirely in red clothing; not even her face reveals itself. She is known only by her codename red widow and is the newest product of the red room assassin training program. Her real name is unknown.

"In my experience, the red widow doesn't say much of anything at all. Her presence is a requirement of the committee. But she will follow your orders." laynia assures.

"No, more likely she'll slit my throat if I get out of line." Dimitri corrects as he leads them across a small bit of water.

"Please, Dimitri, you know we need this. You've heard about the recent attacks in the black sea?" laynia asks.

"News said it was Romanian rebels."

"Romanian rebels don't tear submarines in half with their bare hands."

Dimitri sighs. "This is happening whether I agree or not, isn't it?"

They soon rounded a corner and came to a small opening, and before them stood a 7-foot tall suit of armor that is reminiscent of an iron man armor designed by Tony Stark, but some differences show that this is not stark tech.

"The world is a more dangerous place than ever. Russia needs her greatest heroes." Nikolai says.

"And the winter guard needs you, Dimitri." laynia assures.

"No, my friends, you don't need Dimitri Bukharin. It would help if you had the crimson dynamo. Let's hope I remember where I left the damn key. And tell me straight. Exactly who are we going after this time around?"

(the south Pacific. The International undersea biosphere is known as hydro polis. Normally underwater.)

Namor lifts the entire biosphere into the air and out of the water "attention, trespassers! Leave these waters and never return! The oceans of the earth are at this moment off-limits to all but their native inhabitants! Now and always!"

Namor and his defenders of the deep were terrorizing the scientists. The defenders were as follows. Echidna, the monsters' mother, Manowar the terrorist jellyfish, the piranhas' mindless man-fish-eating machines, bloodtide the water which, Andromeda, an Atlantean warrior, tiger shark the aquatic psychopath, orka the human killer whale, and finally king crab, the worlds most potent crustacean.

"The King has spoken! Break his a specific law, and you will know the wrath of his defenders of the deep." Andromeda declares.

"That's right, get the hell back to your dirt, people! While you still can!" orka rips through a support beam.

"But we're a peaceful research facility. We've never--"

King crab picks up the woman who tries to reason with them and throws her towards piranhas.

"Ha! I'd move a fair bit faster if I were you, air-breather. I do believe the piranhas are getting hungry." tiger shark cackles

(Avengers Mountain. The north pole.)

"Warning. Avengers priority alert." the alarm went off in avengers mountain.

"Hey! Is anybody going to answer that? Hello? Ah hell, where the crap is everybody?" a humanoid gorilla was swinging down to the computer room to answer the priority call. This gorilla is, well, gorilla man known by his human name ken hale

"Warning. Avengers priority alert." the computer sounds off again.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm coming. Keep your drawers on."

Ken drops down into the computer room and lands swiftly "hey, computer, it's me!"

"Voice patterns recognized. Ken Hale, gorilla man, avengers butler." the computer identified gorilla man

"Stark and his damn jokes! I'm not the butler! I'm a special agent of--"

"Warning. Avengers priority alert."

"Damnit, what's the damn emergency? And where in the hell do I find the damn avengers?"

(With elite)

He and his friend Gwen were out at big Ronnies. It was a costume shop for heroes. It's where heroes went to get costumes custom-made or to get repairs. Gwen brought him there for two reasons one to get his costume made and to have her own repaired.

Elite is looking towards the door with a faraway look 'maybe I should've told ken I was going.'

Gwen saw the faraway look in his eyes and snaps her fingers. "hello, earth to elite, you still with me?" she asks.

Elite snaps out of his musings, "y-yeah yeah. I'm here; sorry, I just thought maybe I should've let ken know I was leaving. What if something goes down and the team needs me?"

Gwen waves her hand "it'll be fine. Besides, you said your team has been on a series of aquatic-based missions lately anyway. You're weak towards the water. Again, you can't just stay in the north pole doing nothing. Besides, we've got to get you a costume made. You're an avenger now, so you have to look the part."

"Yeah. Yeah. You're right; the team is probably okay. Besides, everyone is off doing different things anyway, but I hope to see some action soon. I've been on the sideline since after the whole thing with the final host."

Gwen slid a book with various costume materials and colors to him "well, something to get your mind off of that make your costume."

Elite nods and starts looking over the book for precisely what he wanted his costume to be. He had an idea in his mind

(the Pacific coast highway.)

"So remind me, Mr. Stark, what do I get when I beat you?" Jonathan asks.

"You get one favor from me. I can't say no. I can't ask what it is. It's open at any time. And since I'm such a nice guy, I will make that favor happen for you even when you lose, kid."

"Sorry, Mr stark, but no tech in the world is a match for pure old-fashioned speed. But I will also uphold my promise. I'll contact that friend of mine, you know, the ghost rider, and I can see if he'll be able to send a message to your dad. What was it you wanted to tell him again?"

"Let's start with, "hi Howard. I made a car faster than the ghost rider. You finally proud of me yet?"

"Warning. Avengers priority alert." Jonathan heard the alarm

"Crap. Guess the race will have to wait." Jonathan sighs.

"I don't think so, kid. Last one to the mountains a rotten avenger."

Tony's car converts into a flying car, and he and Jonathan fly towards avengers mountain.

(With Shinji)

Maid appears on Shinji's computer screen. "shin. It's an avenger priority alert. You should probably head to HQ."

"Do I have to? I've been hard at work repairing and refitting my drones from the last battle."

"Yes! You have to. Whether you want to be or not, you're an Avenger now. You saved the world, which means you have an obligation not only to the world but to your teammates as well. They depend on you."

Shinji sighs and rubs his face, and grabs his gauntlet "okay, let's do this." he taps his gauntlet and summons his glider, and hops on, and starts flying towards the north pole.

(Atlantic seafloor. Helicarrier graveyard)

Selina and thor were busy on clean-up duty, sending the remains of a busted helicarrier into the sun. Selina wore a deep-sea iron man armor again for the sake of this particular duty.

"So... You and Jen." she starts.

"Can we not speak of this?"

Selina picks up a large chunk of debris with ease and throws it to thor "why not? Everyone else sure is. So it's a thing? Thor and the hulk, the Titanic team-up. You never expected?"

Thor held his hammer like a bat and prepared to hit the giant piece of rubble "nay; it is not a...thing. We have not even embarked upon a proper date."

Thor saw the debris coming, and with his titanic strength, swung his hammer and sent the debris flying out of the water.

"You haven't asked her out yet? You better hurry before someone else does."

"You believe if I were to ask her out... She would say aye?"

"Good lord, it's like I'm cleaning up underwater s.h.i.e.l.d. Garbage with a God who's in grade school. You want me to text her and ask if she likes you?"

"Would you?"

"Wow, I've never seen a guy in more desperate need of a wingman—Selina to the rescue. That means after we throw all this trash into the sun, the tacos are on you, big guy."

"Warning. Avengers priority alert." the computer sounds off in the comms.

"Never mind the tacos, I guess." Selina sighs.

"But... You can still dispatch the text, yes?"

(Wakanda.)

"Close your eyes and open your mind, Jennifer, just as I've shown you. Then tell me what you see." t'challa advises.

Jennifer closes her eyes and, for a moment, sees nothing, but then she sees the hulk's piercing gaze directed at her. "I...I see my sweet face smiling back at me with a calm and confident grin."

"For all our sakes, I hope that to be the truth, as this next test is not for the faint of heart. And seren, I appreciate you joining us today as well." t'challa says.

"Of course I came today. I couldn't deny a request from one of our most gracious benefactors."

"Yeah, you called us both here t'challa, so hit us with your best shot. I'm sure we can take it. Just not sure why you had us dress up if you're going to throw us into a room of angry rhinos." Jennifer muses.

"That's not exactly what I had in mind," t'challa answers.

"You both face very different challenges today. Seren, for you, it's making it through your first press conference as the chairwoman of the avengers. And Jennifer, for you, it's making it through this press conference without hulking out."

"Oh, God." Jennifer gulps.

"Well, this should be interesting." seren says.

"From Roxxnews. With the avengers now at your beck and call, is Wakanda the world's only true super-power?" a reporter asks t'challa.

"Will, the avengers submit to international oversight?" another reporter asks.

"King t'challa, how do you respond to reports that some in Congress want to sever diplomatic ties with your administration over this so-called "avengers gate"?

"Warning. Avengers priority alert." the computer alerted.

"Well, damn. It looks like the questions will have to wait." seren sighs.

(Washington, D.C. )

"Some random hero as chairwoman of the avengers. Let me ask you something, how exactly did you think that would go over in the halls of power in this town?" general ross asks.

Constantine lit a cigarette and puffed out some smoke after he took a drag. "well, I figured since the mates and I saved the world, we'd probably get at least a thank you may be a parade or something, but instead, we get crucified and vilified as if we're public enemy number one. You ungrateful prick."

"Well, let me tell you something there was nothing pleasant about this for us, especially since the man who wears our flag is one of your backers and didn't even bother to give us so much as a heads up. We had to see it on the evening news, like a bunch of working slobs in Nebraska." ross points out.

"Well, here's a news flash for you, general captain Rogers and me and the team don't work for you. And the avengers don't fight for any country. We fight for the earth."

"That makes for a nice bumper sticker, Constantine. But as far as we're concerned, around here, the United States of America is the earth. And if the U.S. Government can't trust the avengers anymore... Well then, I'm afraid--"

Constantine puffed out some smoke and sent it towards Ross's face "let me stop you right there before you finish that threat. You can trust us to be the avengers. And if you decide that's something you seriously want to get in the way of, well, I can promise you this, sir, your old friend, the hulk will be nothing compared to what I turn into."

Constantine took another drag and blew the smoke into Ross's face "good day, general." he says in a mocking tone and proceeds to leave the monument.

"He's leaving. General ross, should we--" a soldier asks.

Ross, however, shakes his head "no, let him go. The avengers are a lost cause now. It looks like it's time for plan B. It's Thunderbolt Ross, and I'm making the call. Bring in the agent."

"Warning. Avengers priority alert."

"Got it, mountain. I'm in dc. Where's the closest teleporter?" Constantine asks

"The Wakandan embassy in Dupont Circle." the computer. Answers.

"Understood. And tell me there's something big on the other end. I need to blow off some steam."

(With aven)

Aven went and picked up davi, and they both went to find elite; using his shield connections, aven tracks elite to big Ronnies, and they entered "elite. Come on; the team needs all of us duty calls." aven says.

"Yeah, the defenders of the deep are causing trouble its time for the team to assemble!" davi adds.

"You guys know I'm not capable in water. Well, it depends on how deep is the water? If it's not too much, I can handle it. But if we're going deep sea, that's not an option for me."

"Will you just come on! We don't have time to dick around with you and your fear of water." aven says.

Elite clicks his tongue. "OK, if I die, you stay away from my funeral. Gwen, I'm sorry I have to go duty calls." elite walks over to aven, and davi and they leave the shop and get into a quinjet aven had to wait for them. They take off to meet up with the others.

(at the biosphere)

Namor rips another support beam sending the biosphere deeper into the water. "Tell your governments! Your navies! Your energy companies that turn the oceans black! Tell them they're no longer welcome upon these waves!" and if they don't like it, tell them they can talk to me!"

"All right, namor. Let's talk." seren says.

"I have nothing more to say to the like of you, wench! Or you're flunkies!" namor snipes

"Flunkies? Who says, flunkies? How old is this guy?" Jonathan says.

"Namor, we've done everything we can to broker peace with Atlantis even after you killed those roxxon gunmen in their cells. And damn near killed stingray, your friend." Selina points out.

"Executed, woman. Those roxxon murderers got what was coming to them. I consider it poetic justice dealt with by the ocean. And I have no more friends from the surface."

Seren steps forward and gets in Namor's face "it's not the ocean that I see terrorizing innocent people here, namor. It's you and this team of psychopaths and criminals you dare call the defenders."

"These people are trespassing, avengers. And so are you. Take them and never return."

"Fine, we will take them and go in peace. For now. But the world will not abide this, namor you know that you cannot lay claim to the oceans of the entire--"

The piranhas were about to eat, and man his and son; however, Jonathan reacts quickly and burns the giant piranhas to a crisp.

"They drew first blood! Now it's on!" king crab yells.

"Hulk is mine." orka calls dibs

"Hey, I wanted hulk." king crab complains.

"Shut up and kill thor!"

"Fine, but then I'm cutting in."

Tiger shark tries to attack Constantine, but he easily evades, "don't even try to blame us for this, namor."

"I can't wait to wipe that smug look off your face! Let's do this!"

"Constantine is right, namor, you did this. You brought this on yourself." seren agrees.

"Dann it, I warned you, people, to never interfere in aquatic business again. And I also promised you there would be no further warnings! Imperius Rex, you air-breathing bastard!" namor picks up an enormous pillar and throws it at seren, but she quickly destroys it with a blast of energy.

"Avengers! Take them down!"

Shinji uses his glider and taps his gauntlet, and several drones appear in front of echidna. "Sorry, you heard the boss. It's back to the aquarium you go, the little mermaid."

Echidna uses her long tail and snags Shinji out of the air. "in a thousand years, they haven't built a cage that could hold echidna, the mother of monsters! I will crack you open like an oyster, little man!"

"Ah, hell, I got the ancient magic one. Where's Constantine? Or somebody anybody else I need to switch!"

Elite and thor were both stuck between King crab's claws. "Gah! I don't know if I should fight you or eat you!" elite grunts as he tries to pry king's crabs claw off of him.

"Aye! My thoughts exactly!" thor agrees.

"Ha! The King crab plans on doing both to you two!"

"Ahhhh!!! Giant piranhas swim for your lives!" some workers yell as they swim away from piranhas.

"Argh, why does it burn when I touch you? What the hell kind of hulk are you?" orka yells as he attempts to punch she-hulk, but she catches the fist, and due to the massive gamma radiation coming from her, it caused orka to feel a burning sensation.

"Worst kind! The kind that burns and smashes and explodes! And even worse, sues!" she-hulk yells.

Davi attempts to use their enlarged limbs from their elastic powers to attack Andromeda. "Andromeda, I've read a file on you. It says you're an honorable warrior, but you're letting namor and his anger drag you down!"

"You think his anger isn't justified? Then let me introduce you to my good friend bloodtide. She was the happiest little girl in Atlantis until your pollutants ravaged her flesh, mutating her into the water, which you see today." Andromeda announces.

Bloodtide emerges from the water behind Jonathan. She has blue skin, long pale blue hair, and a pink dress. "do you feel the rage of the sea, little surface demon? You will. And all the death you've given it will be returned to you a thousandfold!"

Jonathan summons as much fire as he can "uh, guys, I think I could use some help with mine."

Bloodtide summons dead sharks to attack Jonathan

"Guys, I've got zombie sharks over here! Guys!!!"

Seren punches namor and sends him flying across the room "look at what you're doing, namor! Is this really what you want?! These people are all going to die because of you!"

Namor rushes seren and punches her hard, and starts to hold her head underwater "no! You're going to die, and they're going to watch!"

Constantine fires a bolt of magic energy knocking namor away from seren. "you want to kill an avenger? I'm right here. Come kill me."

Namor stands up, furious "this is not a game, avengers! The old rules no longer apply! It is the new order of the world! And if the oceans defenders must go to war to preserve it, then war there will--"

"You say you're looking for a war, fish face? Well, guess what? One just showed the hell up!" Ursa major yells.

The winter guard came into the fray: Dark Star, the mistress of the dark force. Crimson dynamo, the Russian iron man. Chernobog Slavic God of darkness. Red widow abilities unknown presumed murderous—Ursa major world's drunkest bear. Vostok Soviet-era synthezoid. Perun, the Slavic storm God and finally vanguard Russian super-soldier, made up the Russian super-team, the winter guard.

"We are the winter guard! And we've come for justice! Namor of Atlantis! You are under arrest for your crimes against the Russian people in the black sea!"

Ursa major looks at seren "stand aside, we'll take it from here. Perun! Chernobog! You heard the boss. Take namor into custody. Don't worry about being gentle."

"Aye! With pleasure!" perun nods.

"I do hope he resists." chernobog says, sinisterly

Namor stood tall against the new opposition. "avengers. Russian super soldiers. Let the surface world send all the armies it wants! Their carcasses will litter the depths!"

"You should speak with more care when you address the gods, man of Atlantis!" perun scolds.

"Man or hulk or God, I care not! You are all just air and bones to me!" namor scoffs.

Elite and thor watch as Ursa major attacks king crab.

And what happened then?

What you'd expect, sir, a massive brawl. Some impressive displays of power. But not enough bloodshed for my liking.

And how did the avengers react to the sudden intervention of the winter guard?

Dark Star fought bloodtide in the air while Jonathan fought the sharks attempting to take a bite out of him.

Davi lands some solid hits against Andromeda stunningly and brings a hammer fist down onto her knocking her towards the water.

They were surprised at first but seemed happy to have some assistance. Namor's defenders may be wild and undisciplined, but they're still an impressive collection of freaks and killers. And they were in their element.

Vanguard strikes echidna with his shield, and Shinji fires several rounds from the turrets on his drones at her.

The avengers and the winter guard seemed to be staying out of one another's way. At least at first. Until the incident with the gods turned.

Yes, we'll get to that. And where exactly were you during all of this?

Doing my job, sir. Observing.

Then please give me your full observation. How would you rate the new winter guard's performance?

...

You may speak freely, red widow.

They're not ready, sir. But I'll get them there.

Crimson Dynamo blasted straight through Manowar

I can make them the most robust winter guard the world has ever seen. I'd recommend you let me kill one or two to help inspire the others. I can list my choices in order of personal preference.

Dark Star and bloodtide fire magic blasts at each other, which are in a deadlock. One bolt trying to overtake the other.

"Widow! What the hell is she doing?" crimson dynamo yells out as he sees her sitting in the rafters doing nothing.

We shall see. That will be all for now, red widow.

Yes, sir. Thank you, your Excellency.

Both perun and chernobog attack namor sending him flying.

"Now you meet your end, Atlantean, at the hands of perun, Lord of the storm!"

Chernobog pushes Perun aside. "bah, stand aside, perun. Don't come between a god and his meat. This kill belongs to chernobog!"

"What? You dare?"

Perun grabs chernobog's hand. "I knew It was a mistake to allow your presence here. If you cannot control your black heart--"

"If you do not remove your hand, I will show you your very red and still-beating heart; you cloud-humping louse."

Perun attacks chernobog, and their attacks cause shockwaves through the surrounding area "chernobog! Defend yourself; you cur!"

"Blow it out your storm hole, perun! I will gut you like an infant goat!"

Crimson Dynamo and Shinji race towards the scene. "perun! Chernobog! Damn it, stand down! Someone stop them before they kill us all!"

"You went double god; you never go dual god!" Shinji yells.

She-hulk smashes the ground throwing Perun and chernobog off "stupid gods stop being stupid!!!"

General ross? We've just received an air reconnaissance report from over the Pacific, sir.

Could you give it to me straight, soldier?

Well, sir, it appears all hell has broken loose at hydro polis, the avengers, Namor's defenders of the deep, and now the Russian winter guard. They're all fighting each other.

Ursa major grabs elite and puts him in a bear hug "hey, you hurt our gods. I'm going to take a chunk out of one of yours!"

Elite struggles in Ursa major's steel grip and look. Around for help. Selina and aven both snuck up behind Ursa major and stabbed him with swords. Aven created one using his powers, and Selina used the sword that was her primary weapon.

Ursa major roars in pain, and elite headbutts Ursa major hard, sending him stumbling back. "Thanks for the assist." elite says.

Well, ain't that just a peach.

Vanguard attacks seren, and she dodges with finesse, "stay out of our way! We'll handle this!"

"We know-how you people handle things, vanguard! It leaves a lot to be desired!"

Should we intervene, sir?

She-hulk had perun in a chokehold and swatted chernobog away with her hand.

And how the hell do you propose we do that? There's shield won't be any help and look around you son—the good old u.s. Of a. Ain't got no super bastard on the payroll. Not yet, at least. Where the hell that agent? Get him in here!

Crimson Dynamo proceeds to blast she-hulk "all right, hulk, you've stopped the gods! That's enough, you monster!"

Shinji aims all of his drones at crimson dynamo "nobody talks that way to our hulk."

Crimson dynamo turns around and fires a blast at Shinji, which he meets with a large beam shot from one of his drones "awful big talk from someone who brings his toys to battle!"

"Oh yeah, well, I bet these toys could kick your armored ass from here to Timbuktu if I needed to! Maid pour on the juice take em' to church!"

"Got it, shin!" maid amps up the power, and crimson dynamo starts to lose his advantage.

Vostok is firing blasts at davi, and they stretch their body to avoid the shots "great, shall your glory be, motherland proud and free! Bulwark of friendship for nation and man! Flag of the people since freedom began!" Vostok says as he continues firing at davi.

Jonathan flew up to the rafters and grabbed a nearby beam "oh man. Whooo, is this seat taken? I could use a little break my--" as Jonathan pulls himself up without hesitation, red widow stabs him, "AAAGH!"

Constantine and Darkstar towards a trapped couple that piranhas are closing in on, "get off me, Darkstar, this is not a pissing contest. We've got to save those people!"

Dark Star glares at Constantine. "I can save the whole lot of them in seconds if you'd get over your pompous self and--"

Suddenly a fist bursts through one of the piranhas. "defenders of the deep! We are leaving! Join me in the depths. Or else join the piranha." namor announces as he killed the piranhas.

"He... he killed his men!" Darkstar points out.

"And now his defenders are getting away!" crimson dynamo yells.

"I'd worry more about your side right now, crimson dynamo," Shinji says.

Ursa major growls, "this is all your fault, avengers! If you had stayed the hell out of our way, namor would be in a Russian cell right now!"

Aven looks at them "last I heard, that's where you were, Ursa major. And if you're all working for the Kremlin again, how long do you think it'll be before they betray you and put you right back behind bars?"

"We work for the Russian people go back to Wakanda, avengers, and leave our countries business to us." Ursa major snipes

"Don't do this! Don't go down this path. We all know where it will lead." Shinji warns.

"I see why they brought me back. You people have lost your grip on this planet. So now it's up to us to find ours, and that starts here to--" crimson dynamo starts

"Not today." red widow interjects.

"Red Widow? she speaks."

Jonathan appears beside her holding his abdomen "yeah, she stabs too."

"We are pulling out winter guard. This operation is over." red widow informs.

"I didn't give that order. Maybe you've forgotten widow, but I'm the leader of--"

"Get your ass back to Moscow, Bukharin. Don't make me detonate your suit right here in front of everyone." red widow threatens.

As the winter guard left into the sunset, the avengers watched on "what just happened? Did we win?" selina asks.

"The world just became a more dangerous place. That's what happened." Shinji says.

"Yes, especially for us." aven adds.

Seren looks at the sunset "no one ever said this job would be easy, avengers. Or even possible. That's why we're all here."

Because none of us should be possible either, and nothing less than the utterly impossible is what I will ask of you every time you answer our call.

The team starts to rescue civilians and proceeds to stop fires around the facility.

These are dark times, avengers. And they are only trending further into darkness. If we're going to keep this planet intact long enough for its people to pull themselves back into the light, we'll have to do it one impossible day at a time.

Jonathan is on a jet ski pulling a raft full of civilians away from the wreckage. Shinji uses his drones' combined effort to lift a large piece of debris that had civilians on it. Elite raises large amounts of rubble to save civilians who are trapped.

Davi uses their stretching abilities to reach civilians who drifted away from the research base.

Seren, selina, and aven made sure that everyone made it to the evacuations safely.

Today was a day unlike any other. Tomorrow will be more of the same. But that's our job description. That's why we stand together. If the world needs something to believe in, let it feel in the power and promise of our most sacred words, Avengers assemble!

Two large ships bearing the A for avengers pick up all civilians, and they start to head back to land.

(Washington, D.C.)

"General ross, the agent, has arrived." a soldier announces.

"I have to say, general... I'm a bit surprised to be here. Mostly since I'm not an agent of anything anymore."

"And I'm a bit surprised to be seeing you, to be honest. For all sorts of different reasons, eh? But here we are, son."

Ross picks up various photos of the battle that occurred at the biosphere "our country has a severe problem. You're going to help us with the solution. We've lost the avengers just in time for the whole world to go straight to hell. And we are not accustomed to losing around here. I'm counting you to deal us a winning hand."

The agent nods. "I believe I've done that, sir, if you'd like to see your cards."

"Heh. I had a feeling you were the right man for the job. Welcome to the deep state. Agent Coulson."

Agent Coulson nods. "happy to be back, general. I'm also proud to present this country's newest and greatest heroes. I give you the squadron supreme of America."

Five heroes, one in red and four in black, stood next to the agent Coulson.

(later. East l.a.)

Robbie Reyes was outside working on his car, but there was more to the young man than meets the eye. He is a ghost rider. 'there's still so much I don't understand about this damn car and my connection to it-- maybe I could ask Jon to help, I'm sure he would if I asked, but I would rather not burden him with this. This car would never shut up at one point. Now it's wholly ghosted me.'

"There you are!" a booming voice yells. "There's the murderer I seek!" It is Odin as he stabs Robbie with his spear.

"What the hell?"

"Spirit of vengeance! Many years ago, we may have been comrades, but now it is Odin, all-father of Asgard, who comes seeking revenge! Against you, ghost rider of Midgard, for what you did to--"

Robbie opens his mouth, and a stream of hellfire came out of it "whoever the hell you are, you've got the wrong damn ghost rider!"

"Nay, you are the rider I seek. I have seen your sins through the ether. You and you're demonic hel chariot. Did you think no one in the heavens would know the evil you had done?"

"I'm guessing I don't know. Maybe you want to fill me in before you try to murder me again?" 'not sure what's freaking me out more. That hipster grandpa here just stabbed me with a spear or that I didn't die!'

Odin raises his spear "you are the murderer, demon! And will cut you down just like you did him! Like you slew the star brand!" Odin fires a blast of energy at the ghost rider sending him to one knee.

"Starbrand?! That crazy guy who attacked me in Africa? You're even crazier than he was, old man!"

"The starbrand and the rider. Always were the two of you at each other's throats. But I never thought it would come to this. He was your brother in arms since the dawn of this world! And nothing is more important than family! In the name of the starbrand, I condemn you to die, brother rider! May some other gods somewhere have mercy on your cursed soul!" Odin prepares his final strike.

"Wait! Wait! Hear me out! I didn't mean to kill him—your starbrand friend. At least I didn't mean it. He was out of control, attacking me and everyone around him for no reason. To try and stop him, I gave him the penance stare. Which I didn't even know I could do. And he just blew up. He blew up and died."

"Lost control? It was just before the coming of the final host?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I suppose it was. I guess starbrand knew that was about to happen. Maybe starbrand was trying to warn me."

"Of course he was. He was terrified. And that terror drove the poor mortal insane. So It wasn't you who killed the starbrand after all, the rider. It was I. For it was Odin the all-fool who buried the fallen celestial one million years ago and began the--" Odin suddenly doubled over and started vomiting.

"Dude. Are you drunk?"

"Only enough to make a fool of myself. Which is suddenly not nearly drunk enough if you would help me up the boy and fetch us a drink."

Robbie went inside and got odin some coffee to help with the alcohol, and Odin spoke of the ghost rider from a million years ago. "a flaming woolly mammoth. You're joking."

"The all-father of Asgard does not jest I leave such frivolous matters to my imprudent sons."

"So thor and Loki are the funny ones in the family. That says a lot."

"As a rider, you should know your legacy, young Roberto sordid as it may be. Almost as sordid as this coffee of yours. Are you sure you haven't any mead?"

"I'm from the other ghost riders I've met. I never made a deal with the devil. I just died, and that crazy-possessed car brought me back."

"The riders are always different. Yet still the same in one crucial regard. You made a deal, whether you remember it or not. And sooner or later, something dark and terrible will come lumbering out of the shadows, looking to collect. The only question is, will there be anything left of your mortal soul by then? Or will you have given it all to the vengeful monster inside you?"

"That rider with the woolly mammoth whatever happened to him?"

"We rode together for many years. Alongside the rest of our wondrous compatriots. The mightiest warriors of the ancient earth. Mortals were as noble and powerful as gods. And also a wizard. Many grand and glorious adventures did we share in those savage, primordial days. Many fearsome foes did we face in a sense-shattering battle. Battles that shaped the world as you know it. Quite literally. As for what ultimately became of those great heroes of Midgard's dawn, I would not speak of it. Not now. It has only been a million years. The wound is still too raw."

Robbie merely nods in acceptance at Odin's answer, "I'm too old to have made a drunken spectacle of myself this night. Promise me something, the rider. Promise you'll never speak of this to anyone."

"Only if you promise me we'll do this again, Mr. Odin. I want to know more about the riders who've come before me. The star brands, too. I want to know everything—especially the mistakes they all made, ones I can hopefully avoid. I'm way too young to die twice."

Odin chuckles and stands up. "you'll know far more about the starbrand soon enough, I would imagine, for this realm is never long without one, especially in trying times like these. Let us hope the brand chooses wisely, though that has not always been the case. Or else you're recent experience may prove valuable after all, young rider of Los Angeles."

"Experience? Experience in what?"

Odin nudges Robbie, "killing star brands now come, boy. The all-father of Asgard would ask one more favor of you before I take my leave."

"Wait, don't tell me."

"Yes! I've got a God as my co-pilot!"

"I thought you said this chariot was fast! I've ridden goats faster than this! Your first lesson in being a rider, boy, the only force that can slow you down is you! If you wish to survive being a hell damned horror, you've got to know when to give the monster free rein!"

"You want monster fast, huh? Well, hold onto your butt, Viking Santa, and I'll do you one better. We're about to go ghost rider fast!"

The hell charger starts to zip around at what could be comparable to warp speed "ha! Now, this is more like it! We may make a survivor of you yet, boy!"

"I've never been anything else."

(meantime: in the ear reach of space)

Loki drops in front of the celestials "is this the extent of your plan? To drag me into the middle of nowhere and torture me? Until what? I realize the folly of my evil ways and apologize for unleashing the final host and spend the rest of my days performing cosmic community service? Hmph, I suppose I expected a bit more imagination from the celestials."

One of the celestials points its pointer finger at Loki and zaps him with red cosmic energy. "Gah! No sense of humor either! Or gratitude! You should all be thanking me! For saving your entire pompous race! And for giving Midgard back their precious avengers. Let them all believe I'm the villain once more. I'm damn well used to it! And sure, I'll admit, I've always had more of a knack for devilry than do-goodery, but this latest escapade was a bit of both."

"The Avengers don't have the wherewithal to know why I did what I did! But you lot should! You giant bloody bastards should know! About the war that's on the way, the war to end all realms and with it, the rise of the--"

"I know why you did." a voice chimes in from behind Loki

Loki turns around "you? What in the hell are you doing here? How are you possibly here?"

"I know what you think is coming, Loki. But I'm here to tell you your wrong. It isn't going to be as bad as you think. It's going to be a hell of a lot worse."

The man who got Loki attention is Wolverine

"You meddling half-wit. First, you block my efforts at gathering the infinity stones, purely for safekeeping, of course--"

"Right, that's what you were doing."

"Then you come out here to taunt me. I thought you were supposed to be Canadian."

"Believe it or not, I'm here to help you, bub. And it looks like you could use some right about now."

Wolverine looks up at the celestial "hey, we still got a deal, right, big guy?"

"Don't be a fool; a mere mortal cannot converse with the likes of."

The celestial, however, raises his thumb, giving a thumbs up, showing it understood Wolverine.

"That's impossible."

"For your sake, you damn well better hope it's not."

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but cosmic matters of this sort are usually far above your hairy little pay grade."

"Yeah, I reckon that used to be the case. But the eons do funny things to a man, don't they?"

"Eons? But you're not--"

"From around here? No, I'm not. But this right here is what we call a period of profound cosmic significance." Wolverine crushes his beer can in his hand.

"That watery mudball we love needs all her cosmic defense systems on deck. So here I am, making deals with space gods."

"What deal? What is this?"

"It's a trade. I told these here celestials I could help them burn that horde infection right out of their final host buddies in exchange for you. The only problem is I have no intention of helping them. It isn't my place, and I think they just figured that out. So get ready to run when I give the signal."

Wolverine steps forward, and mighty cosmic flames start to surround him "you did good work getting the avengers back together, Loki laufeyson. But your work isn't done, not by a damn sight. As I said, the future is one bonafide flaming shitstorm. Hell, I should know. I reckon I'm one of the reasons why. One of many." wolverine pops his claws.

Loki looks into the flames around Logan and sees moon knight with a legion of moon priests behind him. Namor is sending his war sharks to attacks. Frank castle the punisher various hands, all are wielding the starbrand. The manthing has possession of thor's hammer. Ursa major is going on a rampage. Captain America's shield gets broken in battle, and finally, a dark elf cackling.

Wolverine flies towards the celestials "incase you didn't know, me popping my claws was the signal Loki! So run away home, little god! Oh, and tell the avengers something for me!"

"A Phoenix Wolverine? What In the name of?"

"Tell them they have some more assembling to do!"

Loki starts falling from space. "AHHHHHHH!"

(Romania. The Carpathian Mountains. The region once known as Transylvania.)

The wasp hope Pym was in her wasp from flying into Transylvania "control to agent Pym. Do you have eyes on the target?"

"Negative. But uh, there are a few something's that have their eyes on me!"

"If you've been spotted, abort at once and get to your extraction point."

"Yeah, that's not happening, not while I still have my stinger blasts." 

Vampire bats start chasing wasp "if you wanted somebody who'd cut and run at the first sign of trouble, you probably shouldn't have hired a former avenger."

"The guard bats have spotted something! An intruder! Sound the alarm!" a guard yells.

"Know that the avengers are busy in the Pacific right now, and there are no other agents available to back you up."

"Understood. This is wasp, an agent of Wakanda, going in."

Wasp enters a large castle and starts flying around, "meeting plenty of resistance. Better prep your evac. If the targets here, we'll be coming in hot."

"That was not the plan, agent. You were only meant to lay eyes on the target and report back."

"Castle Dracula has an intruder!" guards yell wasp starts firing her wasp stings at them

"Yeah, probably should've told you. I'm not a have a look around and report back type of lady. I'm more of a sting everything in sight sort of gal."

"Satellite scans show the target directly ahead, and more guards on the way. Get him and get out of there wasp!"

"Copy that."

"Drain her blood for the master!"

Wasp kept avoiding guards until she finally lost them and came across a cell. "success. I have eyes on the target."

"Is he responsive?"

"Let me see." 

Wasp flew through the gap in the bar and saw her target. "hey, blade, how'd you like to join the Avengers?"

The vampire hunter blade was bloody beaten and chained to the wall "get me my swords."

"Good answer." wasp says.

Next time: (the avengers organize an international superhero summit, gathering heroes from the most powerful nations on earth. But no one expecting the shocking new representative from the united states. The world is about to become a far more dangerous place, especially for the avengers! Plus, she-hulk and thor try to go on a date.)

Next chapter: "The Strength and Conviction of Phil Coulson."

I hope you all enjoyed this supersized chapter. We got to see many exciting things and some hints at what's to come down the road. Let me know what you're favorite part was.

I look forward to hearing from everyone until next time supremedreams_1 out. ✌️